Search Results for: engineering

HDR is providing engineering expertise on one of London’s most sustainable, all-electric office buildings

HDR is providing engineering expertise on one of London’s most sustainable, all-electric office buildings

Holbein Gardens, located at 7 Holbein Place in the heart of London’s Belgravia, will lead the way for future schemes on the road to achieving net zero carbon. Independent multidisciplinary engineering consultancy HDR has been commissioned by property business Grosvenor Britain & Ireland to provide engineering services on Holbein Gardens, a new office scheme located in the heart of Belgravia. (more…)

CIBSE updates guide to engineering maintenance and management of buildings

Engineering design of buildingsUpdated guidance for designers, maintainers, facilities managers and building owners on the operation and maintenance of engineering services has been issued by CIBSE. Guide M: Maintenance Engineering and Management supersedes the first edition published in 2008 to provide best practice for those who have responsibility for the management and maintenance of the engineering services in a building. It is written for anyone involved in the design and construction of buildings to raise awareness of the implications their decisions have on management and maintenance. The main areas of revision relate to legislation changes and changes in best practice. The guidance continues the work of the CIBSE Maintenance Task Group chaired by Joanna Harris, and intends to close the gap between design and operation by bringing maintenance into a sharper focus and helping building and property operators become more aware of their responsibilities and duties. The ultimate aim is to help clients by managing their expectations and maximising impact from their annual spends on maintenance and management of buildings.

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Interview: Greg Lindsay on engineering serendipity and harnessing chaos

Render of Plaza at Zappos offices in LA

Render of Plaza at Zappos offices in LA

Greg Lindsay is a journalist and urbanist. He is a contributing writer for Fast Company and co-author of the international bestseller Aerotropolis: The Way We’ll Live Next as well as a visiting scholar at New York University’s Rudin Center for Transportation Policy & Management, a senior fellow of the World Policy Institute, and a research affiliate of the New England Complex Systems Institute. He is also one of the main speakers at this year’s Worktech conference in London on 19 and 20 November. In this frank and enlightening interview he offers his thoughts on how firms can engineer serendipity into their workplaces and cultures and how the way we design offices is already taking clues from the way we plan urban environments.

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Most people now use unapproved AI tools despite security and privacy risks

Most people now use unapproved AI tools despite security and privacy risks

A new poll from Microsoft suggests that most UK employees are now using consumer AI tools at work without approval, raising growing concerns about data privacy and cybersecurityA new poll from Microsoft suggests that most UK employees are now using consumer AI tools at work without approval, raising growing concerns about data privacy and cybersecurity. According to the research, 71 percent of UK workers have used or tried unapproved “Shadow AI” tools for work purposes, with more than half (51 percent) doing so on a weekly basis. These tools are often used for writing reports and presentations, drafting communications, and even handling finance-related tasks. (more…)

Circular design and human-centred innovation celebrated at BCO National Awards

Circular design and human-centred innovation celebrated at BCO National Awards

An office built entirely on circular design principles, a 3,300 sq m living wall and the transformation of a Victorian infirmary into a modern workplace were among the projects recognised at the British Council for Offices (BCO) National Awards. Held on 7 October at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House in London, the event brought together more than 1,200 senior figures from across the office sector to celebrate excellence in workplace design, development and operation. (more…)

Global commission on healthy indoor air launches at United Nations

Global commission on healthy indoor air launches at United Nations

The Global Commission on Healthy Indoor Air has been formed to drive action on indoor air qualityA new international initiative was launched in New York during Climate Week to address what experts describe as one of the most overlooked public health issues of our time. The Global Commission on Healthy Indoor Air has been formed to drive action on indoor air quality, bringing together nearly 170 leaders from over 30 countries across health, academia, business and the built environment. The Commission was announced at a United Nations side event and is backed by the International WELL Building Institute. Its members include former United States Surgeon General Dr Richard Carmona, leading scientists and researchers, deans of major universities, as well as executives and sustainability leaders from real estate, technology, and manufacturing. Architecture, engineering and building science are also strongly represented, reflecting the cross-disciplinary nature of the challenge. (more…)

Bloom: Modular comfort for modern workspaces, introduced by Ocee and Four Design

Bloom: Modular comfort for modern workspaces, introduced by Ocee and Four Design

The Bloom modular sofa system from Ocee & Four Design promises a new approach to flexible shared seating, perfect for modern workspaces - no matter how people like to workThe Bloom modular sofa system from Ocee & Four Design promises a new approach to flexible shared seating, perfect for modern workspaces – no matter how people like to work. With single-sided and double-sided seating options, Bloom invites conversation, collaboration and comfort from every angle. Made with 19 different modules, Bloom can adapt alongside the needs of any organisation – evolving with environments to keep pace with ever-changing commercial trends and demands. Featuring active seating zones integrated into the rear of single units, Bloom encourages spontaneous moments of pause. It is ideal for informal interactions in modern workspaces, hospitality and public settings. (more…)

Employers face flexible working challenge to meet demands of new employment bill

Employers face flexible working challenge to meet demands of new employment bill

A survey by HR software provider Ciphr suggests that improved access to flexible working is likely to be the most difficult provision to manage.Employers are expected to face major implementation hurdles as the government’s new Employment Rights Bill begins to reshape workplace practices. A survey by HR software provider Ciphr suggests that improved access to flexible working is likely to be the most difficult provision to manage. In a poll of 300 HR decision-makers across the UK, 22 percent said that changes to flexible working arrangements—making it the default where practical—would present the biggest challenge in terms of time, resources and cost. Respondents also raised concerns about stronger legal protections for workers involved in industrial action (21 percent) and the extension of the employment tribunal claim window from three to six months (17 percent). (more…)

Why winning the AI race starts with workforce readiness

Why winning the AI race starts with workforce readiness

While AI is heralded as a transformative force across industries, a quieter challenge threatens to slow its momentum: the growing shortage of skilled AI professionals. Behind the buzz of breakthroughs lies a stark reality — companies are racing to adopt AI, but many are leaving their people behind. Recent data shows the skills required for AI-exposed jobs are evolving 66 percent faster than for other roles — a dramatic leap from just 25 percent a year ago. The demand for AI talent is surging in the UK, where the job market is cooling off. Yet, as job postings requiring AI skills continue to climb, this only underscores a critical imbalance felt across the job market. (more…)

TRILUX and Sweco deliver circular lighting upgrade in Maidenhead

TRILUX and Sweco deliver circular lighting upgrade in Maidenhead

TRILUX partnered with Sweco UK Ltd to deliver a circular lighting upgrade at the consultancy's Maidenhead office.TRILUX has partnered with Sweco UK Ltd to deliver a circular lighting upgrade at the consultancy’s Maidenhead office. By refurbishing and upgrading the existing fluorescent luminaires, the project significantly reduced waste and improved the quality and efficiency of lighting in the open-plan workspace. Sweco UK Ltd, a leader in sustainable engineering and design, recently partnered with TRILUX to deliver a circular lighting refurbishment at its Maidenhead office. The project involved upgrading old fluorescent luminaires installed in multi-service chilled beams on the first floor, bringing a more sustainable, energy-efficient, and visually comfortable lighting solution to the space. (more…)

Cities must embrace the radical retrofit of buildings to meet future challenges

Cities must embrace the radical retrofit of buildings to meet future challenges

The Radical Retrofit report by Economist Impact, supported by JLL, argues that making cities more sustainable and resilient will depend on retrofits that improve safety, health and accessibility, while also driving economic valueAs cities continue to grow, the pressure on infrastructure, resources and the environment is intensifying. A new global study warns that urban centres must move beyond new construction and reimagine the buildings they already have. Retrofitting – enhancing and upgrading existing structures -is emerging as a key strategy to cut emissions, improve energy performance and boost urban liveability. The Radical Retrofit report by Economist Impact, supported by JLL, argues that making cities more sustainable and resilient will depend on retrofits that improve safety, health and accessibility, while also driving economic value. Though still in its early stages, the movement is gaining traction across global cities such as Singapore, New York, Paris and Dubai. Yet the pace must accelerate dramatically from today’s retrofit rate of 1 percent per year to at least 3 percent to align with net-zero goals. (more…)

ROOM Launches The Room Collection: flexible architecture for today’s hybrid workplace 

ROOM Launches The Room Collection: flexible architecture for today’s hybrid workplace 

ROOM, the leading modular architecture company behind the award-winning Phone Booth and pioneer in hybrid workplace design, has introduced The Room Collection: a new series of scalable and adaptable rooms, designed to provide privacy in open floorplans and meet the dynamic needs of today’s businesses and office workers.ROOM, the leading modular architecture company behind the award-winning Phone Booth and pioneer in flexible workplace design, has introduced The Room Collection: a new series of scalable and adaptable rooms, designed to provide privacy in open floorplans and meet the dynamic needs of today’s businesses and office workers. A major pain point for employees is working in an office that hasn’t yet been optimized for the hybrid workplace. Simultaneously, businesses may find it difficult to swiftly adapt to changing workplace needs. While insufficient meeting spaces, poor acoustics and back-to-back virtual meetings plague workers, inflexible leases and hefty construction costs prevent business leaders from adapting accordingly. The Room Collection helps solve this through its easy-to-assemble, soundproof modular office system that can evolve to meet the needs of businesses at any stage. (more…)